United Splitting up Families (Basic Economy ticket)
#181
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I think that the OP's sister in law learned a nice lesson: you can shame a passenger with an aisle seat to take a middle seat just because there are kids involved. Next trip, she will repeat this.
#182
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If people can't tell the difference between a red X that means NO and a blue checkmark that means YES, they are simply too stupid to fly and need to stay home....or fly Spirit. Seriously, it is already clear enough and people should not be rewarded for refusing to acknowledge clear and concise information that was provided to them during the booking process and reiterated during an upsell routine as part of the booking process.
#183
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I do like the idea, but it is rather condescending in present form, but I can see it working IF toned down.
#184
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
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And yes, I can predict the "it's their fault for using Expedia" argument, but ultimately it's the airline that is responsible, and shouldn't sell tickets through Expedia if they don't want passengers to use it.
Well the rules aren't different, but the way they are implemented is different. If this had involved two adults who wanted to sit together, it's likely that they would have been told "tough luck". But since a child was involved, and UA does not want the potential liability or bad publicity of separating a child from the parent, this was resolved to the family's satisfaction.
#185
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Their used to be a job known as a travel agent. They still exist I am told and will do airline bookings for a fee. But once a person goes into do it yourself mode then it is up to them to do the work and research of the professional they decide not to hire. My late father could not book tickets on his own (macular degeneration, computer screens even with all the settings for impaired vision were impossible for him to see properly ) so he asked for help from me or paid someone to book the tickets.
I will hate on Basic Economy fares but still think people should look at what they are purchasing as consider whether it is right for them. I
#186
Join Date: Apr 2006
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The whole point of BE, other than carriers hoping that you won't purchase it, is that when you do, the carrier fills you in where there are seats available after others have selected.
You are presuming that nobody wants the last row and that is close to correct. But, I would take the last row aisle before an E+ middle.
You are presuming that nobody wants the last row and that is close to correct. But, I would take the last row aisle before an E+ middle.
#187
Join Date: Oct 2009
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So you mean there's a chance?
#188
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Not at all. On other public transportation and performance venues, no seat assignment means you go in and sit wherever you want (in your designated section). Airlines are the only place where "no seat assignment" means "you will have a seat assignment, but not of your choosing".
Sure, and there's a chance that UA will order 747-8
#189
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 545
No, he wasn't. He was upgraded and ended up not sitting with his wife and kid. So the simplest - and most considerate - solution would have been for him to offer his seat to the displaced passenger and take the middle seat.
He said he offered at the gate and the GA said no, but they could have executed the swap on the plane.
He said he offered at the gate and the GA said no, but they could have executed the swap on the plane.
#190
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 107
Agreeing with several others: I think the airlines should take care of it programatically during the reservation. If any of the passengers on the reservation are below a designated age, the fee for choosing a seat should automatically be added and the purchase should HAVE to select seats before the reservation is complete.
Now, how to handle it through Expedia will be more complicated but if it cannot be done while the reservation is being made, perhaps a program can be in place to evaluate those types of reservations after they have been made. Send an email requiring confirmation that they need to pay $ to book seats together. It's not really an issue of forcing them to pay for an option to book "a seat" but the option of booking "multiple seats together."
Now, how to handle it through Expedia will be more complicated but if it cannot be done while the reservation is being made, perhaps a program can be in place to evaluate those types of reservations after they have been made. Send an email requiring confirmation that they need to pay $ to book seats together. It's not really an issue of forcing them to pay for an option to book "a seat" but the option of booking "multiple seats together."
Last edited by vbnet; Aug 30, 2018 at 10:05 am
#191
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And a thread, 10x longer than this one, shows up on the board stating that United is discriminating against families with children.
#192
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#194
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Posts: 1,636
It's clear that Flyertalk is mostly savvy travelers who know the rules and expect everyone else to as well. However, many people have no idea what basic economy is, and the airlines and OTAs don't always do a good job of explaining it.
At the end of the day, the airline is going to have to find a way to let the kids sit with at least one parent, because it's too risky not to. I know there is currently no law requiring it, but there was no law against removing Dr. Dao either, and look how well that worked out for Untied. Publicity can be stronger than any law. What if a child gets molested by another passenger while the parents are in another row? What if "my autistic son had a panic attack because Mr. Diamond-Guest refused to let me sit with him" goes viral on social media?
Right now, congress has asked the government to look into the matter. This is basically telling the airlines "this issue is on our radar, fix it before we make you". If they don't, the government could force airlines to keep families together under threat of fines per incident.
To all of you who are saying "it's her fault and she can deal with the consequences", reality doesn't work that way. Most people don't care about the details about fare class and seat selection, but will not stand for kids being separated from their parents. If airlines don't sort this out, DOT will do it for them.
I feel for the man who had to move to a middle seat, and I would have hated to be in his position, but seat assignments are not guaranteed and can be changed by the airline at any time, per the CoC. It's no different from being made to move to another seat due to a FAM, equipment swap, service animal, or any number of other reasons.
At the end of the day, the airline is going to have to find a way to let the kids sit with at least one parent, because it's too risky not to. I know there is currently no law requiring it, but there was no law against removing Dr. Dao either, and look how well that worked out for Untied. Publicity can be stronger than any law. What if a child gets molested by another passenger while the parents are in another row? What if "my autistic son had a panic attack because Mr. Diamond-Guest refused to let me sit with him" goes viral on social media?
Right now, congress has asked the government to look into the matter. This is basically telling the airlines "this issue is on our radar, fix it before we make you". If they don't, the government could force airlines to keep families together under threat of fines per incident.
To all of you who are saying "it's her fault and she can deal with the consequences", reality doesn't work that way. Most people don't care about the details about fare class and seat selection, but will not stand for kids being separated from their parents. If airlines don't sort this out, DOT will do it for them.
I feel for the man who had to move to a middle seat, and I would have hated to be in his position, but seat assignments are not guaranteed and can be changed by the airline at any time, per the CoC. It's no different from being made to move to another seat due to a FAM, equipment swap, service animal, or any number of other reasons.
No, actually they are not. Rules are rules - Basic Economy has a fixed set of rules....there are no govt rules about sitting children with their parents in the same cabin. This is vastly different than being asked to move seats for an equipment swap, broken seat, etc.
If parents want to sit with their children, they need to buy fares that allow for this feature, that's it.
If parents want to sit with their children, they need to buy fares that allow for this feature, that's it.
1 parent needs to be with a small child. It's not a convenience. It is a necessity and really almost a right.
Which means that if airlines are going to sell tickets without seat assignments, they are going to need to deal wirh this situation.
#195
Join Date: Sep 2006
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It is only a right if you don't buy basic economy and a parent takes responsibility to ensure they have advance seat assignments together. Parents need to take responsibility for their actions and not do the blame game.